+ Memory Eternal, Swimmer! +
The children got their first pets this past Saturday. They "won" two goldfish at a Family Fun Day in town. They were so excited to have them. Of course, we had to go out right away and buy food and a container and a little plant. The children named their fish; Evelyn's fish was named Gold (in the picture above) and Dominic called his Swimmer. By the time we got the fish home and situated in their new home, Swimmer was looking pretty exhausted. We had to leave for catechesis and vespers soon after. Evelyn told Father Anthony, too, all about their new fish.
When we got home that evening we found that Swimmer had died. Poor Evelyn and Dominic had their hearts broken and they shed many tears for Swimmer. "I loved him!", Evelyn said through sobs with her head in her hands. Dominic wanted Jesus to heal Swimmer and bring him back. So as parents it was an opportune time to talk about death and what Jesus does for us on the cross. By then it was very late, so we concluded the evening with prayers. The kids were still sad and very, very tired but they went to their beds more peacefully and with more urgent care and attention poured out on Gold. They were a little worried at first that Gold would die too, but Sunday morning came and Gold was still swimming around.
After Liturgy when it was time to come and kiss the cross, Evelyn told Father how one of their fish had died. Father said to her, "Let's have a prayer", and he said a short prayer in thanks to God, still standing there with the cross in his right hand. I am glad he did. Then he gave Evelyn a white carnation and she was very happy. (Everyone got a red or white carnation to take home with them as it was the Elevation of the Holy Cross.) One beautiful thing I've noticed about children is that they love deeply and without reservation. They grieve hard and as deeply as they loved, and when that is done they are ready to live their lives again.
Neither of the children thought it would be good to flush him. We all agreed with them - it's not a befitting way to honor God's creation which you loved. Tonight sometime we will have to bury Swimmer in the yard. What a lucky fish to depart this world with a child's love and a priest's prayers. May we all be so lucky!
+ Memory Eternal, Swimmer! +
When we got home that evening we found that Swimmer had died. Poor Evelyn and Dominic had their hearts broken and they shed many tears for Swimmer. "I loved him!", Evelyn said through sobs with her head in her hands. Dominic wanted Jesus to heal Swimmer and bring him back. So as parents it was an opportune time to talk about death and what Jesus does for us on the cross. By then it was very late, so we concluded the evening with prayers. The kids were still sad and very, very tired but they went to their beds more peacefully and with more urgent care and attention poured out on Gold. They were a little worried at first that Gold would die too, but Sunday morning came and Gold was still swimming around.
After Liturgy when it was time to come and kiss the cross, Evelyn told Father how one of their fish had died. Father said to her, "Let's have a prayer", and he said a short prayer in thanks to God, still standing there with the cross in his right hand. I am glad he did. Then he gave Evelyn a white carnation and she was very happy. (Everyone got a red or white carnation to take home with them as it was the Elevation of the Holy Cross.) One beautiful thing I've noticed about children is that they love deeply and without reservation. They grieve hard and as deeply as they loved, and when that is done they are ready to live their lives again.
Neither of the children thought it would be good to flush him. We all agreed with them - it's not a befitting way to honor God's creation which you loved. Tonight sometime we will have to bury Swimmer in the yard. What a lucky fish to depart this world with a child's love and a priest's prayers. May we all be so lucky!
+ Memory Eternal, Swimmer! +
Comments
Thanks again for the post!
This is probably a much healthier way to have commemorated the fish.
I'm sorry for your loss, and Happy Feast Day!